PALESTINE—November 21, 2016

 


Champions are Thankful for the beauty of home.

        Champions are pleased to join the rest of the Nation in celebrating and expressing Gratitude–that is Gratitude with a capital G.  The highways are full of people going here and there to be with family and friends.  “The kin folks are coming.  They’re coming by the dozens!  Eating everything from soup to hay!”  Many of them are bringing the hay with them so family, friends, and food top the list of things to appreciate.  Add to the list safety for the travelers and the welcome of the home folks and health for all.

        People who are grateful for each other often express those feelings in birthday celebrations or remembrances.  Mabel May (Shannon) Upshaw was born November 20, 1906.  She is gone but not forgotten by a big loving family who filled the internet Sunday talking about what lovely, fun-loving, curious and kind person she was.  In 40 or so years Lizzie’s grandmother will be about 110 years old.  Imagine! They will still be talking about her.  A pretty baby named Clint was being appreciated by folks who talked about what beautiful eyelashes he had, but no one said how old he is today.  Lannie Hinote is celebrating with her friends and students up in Mountain Village, Alaska.  She is having teaching success, coaching success and fishing success so all is well with her.  Skyline students Levi Hicks, 7th grader, celebrates on the 25th; 4th grader, Faith Crawford on the 26th; Billy Strong, 2nd grade, on the 29th; 6th grader, Jhonn Rhodes, and 3rd grader, Lane Watkins, both celebrate on the 30th.  Uncle Al, The Lonesome Plowboy, was born November 27, 1914.  Thanksgiving was on his birthday several times during his life and his son, Willis Masters, baked big pumpkin pies for him decorated with delicate turkeys in purple icing.  They played harmonicas together and music was the undercurrent of family life.  It looks like another Texan, Dave Thompson, will be home with Sue for Thanksgiving and hopefully they will both be back at the Vanzant jam soon.  Last Thursday Norris Woods was remembered by the group there as they sang, “In the Sweet Bye and Bye.”  It has been a year since his passing, but the memory of his smile and good humor is still a regular part of the good experience.

        Kevin Gilbert is a videographer from Omaha, Nebraska.  He reported on Sunday that water cannons, tear gas, concussion grenades and rubber bullets were being used on unarmed Protectors in the 20° temperatures.  He said they were blockaded on the bridge with nowhere to retreat.  Senator Sanders has called on the President to take all appropriate measures to protect the safety of the Native Americans protesters and their supporters who have gathered peacefully to oppose construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline.  Our National celebration of Thanks, while genuine and heartfelt, may be seen by some as ringing a little hollow in light of the historic and persistent treatment of the very people who welcomed boatloads of immigrants and religious refugees with generosity and compassion back in 1620.  The National Museum of the American Indian reports that the Wampanoag, who were essential to the survival of the colonists during their first year, ”were a people with a sophisticated society who had occupied the region for thousands of years.  They had their own government, their own religious and philosophical beliefs, their own knowledge system, and their own culture.  They were also a people for whom giving thanks was a part of daily life.”  Their world changed even as the world is changing today in unprecedented ways.  Justice Sotomayor said, “But we can’t afford to despair, and we can’t afford to give up our pursuing of values that we and others have fought so hard to achieve.  And so for me, this is a challenge.  So I’m going to continue doing what I think is the right thing.  That’s the challenge we all have to face.”

        Fall has come to Champion finally with temperatures in the 20s and 30s.  This week the neighborhood will be full of visitors from Tennessee and other lovely places.  The place will be overrun with grandchildren.  The gathering at Teeter Creek will be festive and well attended drawing friends and family from around the area.  Champion travelers are headed to Iowa and other points north to be in the warmth of family.  Some have gone south through the Boston Mountains.  Arkansas may have had more rain or less heat than we have had at home, resulting in brilliant fall foliage.  Sunday morning’s hard frost blanched the ground and sent clouds of mist and fog rising from springs and streams in the deep mountain folds.  White billows rose lazily up from the rivers and lakes all to be met with dazzling sunshine and shades of red, yellow, gold and green in an ethereal landscape.  On farther south the topography is less severe and more green as Champion grandparents pause in Palestine to enjoy the Steam Train Festival on their way to see grandchildren.  From one end of the country to the other, people are enjoying the beauty of their surroundings and the preciousness of family and friends.  Go to www.championnews.us to look back on ten years of giving thanks and see how many times this song has been referenced:  “Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go.  The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh” in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!


Leaving the Boston Mountains on a frosty morning.
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